The OLMA Overview -- May 29, 2020
And just like that, the 2019-2020 School Year is a wrap! While we will meet again for an all-school Zoom assembly on June 10, the academic portion of the year has come to a close. In all my years in education, I think this was the fastest one on record. It also ranks up there for the most challenging. That's okay, though, because I could not be more pleased with and proud of my faculty and staff for carrying us so gracefully to the finish line. 

To the Class of 2020, congratulations! Our celebration of you will continue on June 17 with the premiere of the Graduation Tribute Video. For those of you who may not be aware, each senior and her family came to school to participate in some cherished traditions. In their caps and gowns, the girls walked the center aisle of the Chapel, received their diplomas, presented a flower to the Blessed Mother, and signed the OLMA Sisterhood Book. Each student was also interviewed and videotaped in various parts of our building and on campus. They turned their tassels and tossed their caps -- and we have it all on film. Of course, we're adding a few other surprises to the video, so you will have to wait and see for those. Without a doubt, though, it will be a one-of-a-kind production, tribute, and cherished keepsake. Please watch your email for more details on the video's release.  

Thank you for your support and resilience, Classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023. I could not be more proud of you. I'm also super excited about welcoming you back to campus sometime soon. No matter what, our future is bright!  

Have a great weekend, stay safe, and I will see you on Zoom on June 10.  
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
MEET AMANDA HASTINGS, CLASS OF 2022
This rising junior isn't letting anything stand in her way when it comes to achieving excellence and developing leadership skills. And, she's willing to put in the hard work. This summer, when academics often take a back seat to free time, Amanda Hastings will be taking Pre-Calculus online so that she can get ahead by enrolling in AP Calculus in her junior year at OLMA. "I have always loved Math, and I'm pretty good at it," says Amanda. "Math and Chemistry are my favorite classes."  

This Math and Science whiz has just completed her second year of straight As in every class. What's her secret? "It takes a lot of focus and making sure that I don't get distracted," she said. "It also takes hard work, but that's okay with me."  

Amanda said that online learning has its ups and downs, but she credits her teachers for keeping her on track. "I know it wasn't easy, but they did a great job, " she said, "and were always willing to help. That means a lot."  

Amanda found her way to OLMA via her brother, who attended St. Augustine Prep. "It was a natural choice, and once I shadowed, I fell in love with it," said Amanda. "I knew that I didn't want to go to a big school, so OLMA was perfect." 

When she's not in a class, Amanda prefers to be on the Lacrosse field. "I missed it this year, but our team stayed close through weekly Zoom sessions and workouts with Coach Valore," she said. During the winter sports season, Amanda put her leadership skills to work managing the OLMA Basketball team. "I loved it and also keep the stats book for the Men's Basketball Team at Rowan," she said. "My brother is a Rowan University student, so we work together in that role."  

Amanda said she also gained some leadership skills last year during her Mini-Mester course in London and Dublin. "It was amazing and helped me become more independent," she said. "I had to manage my own money, which meant making sure I saved enough for food. I also had to be on time and where I was supposed to be. It was a great experience."

To the Class of 2024, Amanda's advice is not to worry about the things you can't control. Instead, work hard, always do your best, and you will succeed. We think that is excellent advice.
TEACHER FEATURE:
MEET MR. WES JARRELL
If you are a student who loves discussing literature and isn't afraid to debate the issues, you are a perfect fit for Mr. Jarrell's class. Wes "Mr. J" Jarrell is finishing up his third year at OLMA. While he certainly didn't expect a semester of teaching entirely online, he has enjoyed it. He is more in tune with his students than ever before. 

"Early on, we started having regular conferences about the work students were doing," said Mr. J. "These were small scale, often individual Zoom sessions to discuss how to approach an upcoming project or what went well or poorly with the last project. It was during these periods where most of the learning took place. I found the online environment to be very conducive to personalization." 

While on the topic of personalization, Mr. J said he had fun seeing how everyone brings their personality to online learning. "Some of the girls like to sit in darkness, while others sat bathed in eye-piercing neon," he said. "Pets made frequent guest appearances. Students also had some fun with their virtual backgrounds."  

Mr. J said that the initial transition to online learning was a smooth one. "Mrs. Coyle and Ms. Valore put together an excellent plan; clear, concise, detailed enough to provide guidance yet flexible enough to allow for innovation," he said. "My biggest challenge was reading the room. It's tricky when you have 20 people on your screen. Our discussions often involve taking the pulse of the class. When together in a classroom, it's easier to tell the difference between who has an opinion and wants to share it and who prefers to stay silent. It's tougher when everyone is on mute, and internet connections are sometimes unreliable, but we made it work."

Indeed, they did. Along the way, Mrs. J integrated several online tools. "I had been using Screencastify off and on since the beginning of the year to reinforce skills that we discussed in class," said Mr. J. "I continued with that, and we also used Padlet to share ideas during our debate. We even ended up posting our whole debate online to make sure everyone had a chance to hear each other without worrying about speaking too fast or glitching. It worked well." 

Thank you, Mr. J!  
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We hope you enjoy the OLMA Overview. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Mrs. Kinkade at 856.697.2008, ext. 140, or email her at: mrs.kinkade@olmanj.org